Harrogate sailor dies after rescue off Cornwall coast

Laura Hill

A yachtsman from Harrogate has died after an air and sea rescue off the coast at Cornwall.

Devon and Cornwall Police were alerted by the Coastguard at 3.20pm yesterday Monday August 3 after a 50ft yacht, believed to be ‘Kate’ owned by Philip Walwyn originally from Harrogate, was discovered in the harbour at Coverack Cove, Helston with no-one on board.

Falmouth Coastguard commenced an air and sea search to locate the missing sailor, and at around 5.10pm the body of man was located in the sea just off Chynalls Point near Coverack by another sailor and he was recovered aboard his yacht.

The man was airlifted by a rescue helicopter and taken to Treliske Hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.

Police say the man is aged 68 and from Yorkshire. Tributes to Philip Walwyn have appeared on Facebook .

Classic Cailor magazine wrote: “RIP Philip Walwyn. Philip was a veteran of many Transatlantics and sailing Kate solo on passage from the Azores to Falmouth. Our condolences to Kate Spencer his wife.”

A Facebook page named, Where’s Walwyn which was set up to cover Mr Walwyn’s cross Atlantic journey from St. Kitts, to the Mediterranean starting June 1, posted: “To the man, the myth, the legend that is and always will be Philip Walwyn. A man that touched so many people’s hearts and souls, a man that is.”

Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious but enquiries continue as to how the man came to be in the water.